Education for working in an SICU

[RNFELICITY]

I have been a critical care nurse for about 5 years and a nurse for 13+ but I have never worked in anything but a MICU. Now, I am looking at moving into a Level I trauma hospital's SICU that takes care of all the traumas, all neuro cases if that have any other problem besides just the neuro and all cardiac if they have something besides just cardiac. From how it sounds, the SICU gets all the specialties if they have more than just one issue going on. I am trying to figure out what types of educational materials I need to bone up on like particular spinal cord issues, neuro issues, surgical issues that are more commonly seen (if that is possible) in an SICU. What are the suggestions for where to focus my studies?

This may sound like a silly post and I guess I am just really anal retentive, but I would like to go into the position with just a smidge more knowledge under my belt. Thanks in advance for any responses.:heartbeat

[meandragonbrett]

You should start studying for CCRN. That will give you a good broad critical care background.

Surgical Critical Care tends to run their patients more on the wet side than dry. LR will be your typical maintenance fluid. You'll see less tube feeding (Lots of gut surgery in Surgical ICU) and more TPN. You'll see lots of abdominal compartment syndrome and ARDS as a result of fluid resus.

[RNFELICITY]

Thanks!

I got my CCRN almost two years ago.

Maybe I am just freaking out because I am anal...lol.

I did not know if I needed to study more trauma stuff like an ER nurse from the ENA or not.

[shellsgogreen]

I would also do some reading on post anesthesia nursing - you tend to get a lot of patients directly from the OR. I worked in PACU before the ICU, and am very thankful for that experience.